FDA takes new approach on feed safety

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US takes
a more methodical approach to safety of animal feed. The Animal Feed Safety
System will focus on risk assessment and preventive
measures.

The FDA Centre for Veterinary Medicine is developing a comprehensive Animal
Feed Safety System (AFSS) to help protect the health of companion animals,
production animals, and humans. A core concept of the AFSS is applying risk
assessment to contaminants in ingredients for animal feed, including pet
food.

Gaps in the system
George Graber, PhD, a former CVM official who
organized the AFSS team and now serves as a consultant, said the FDA's existing
programs to ensure safety of animal feed have focused on a few specific issues
such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy and medicated feeds. "There are gaps in
the system, so the FDA is trying to modernize and strengthen it," Dr. Graber
said. "The agency is expanding the universe of firms, operations, and people who
are going to be impacted."

Another core AFSS concept is emphasizing
preventive measures. Dr. Alfred Montgomery, CVM counterterrorism coordinator,
said veterinarians should be aware of the AFSS because animal feed is a linchpin
in the relationship between animal and human health. "What threatens animal feed
threatens the food chain and also companion animals that are part of the
family," Dr. Montgomery said. "We need help from the veterinary community as we
move forward for guidance and assistance in implementing this
effort."

The latest draft of the
AFSS
framework includes six
components that cover ingredients, contaminants, manufacturing, reporting of
unsafe feed, regulatory oversight, and education and outreach.